Hackers attack businesses in Oz to protest attacks on Indians

Melbourne: Hackers have reportedly attacked
businesses in the city to protest against the recent attacks
on Indian community here, a media report claimed on Thursday.

"It is believed computers belonging to at least five
Melbourne businesses have been stripped of their data by a
hacker who threatens to attack more companies if the violence
continues," according to the ABC report.

One Melbourne construction company has said it lost all
its data and had to pay ASD 120,000 to repair its computer
network.

Mark Gregory, a lecturer in internet security at the
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, said it
was unusual, but not surprising, to see cyber hackers spurred
by revenge rather than financial gain.

"The motivation here appears to be something that is
very topical and in the news at the moment and to suggest that
there wouldn`t be groups that would use the internet for this
type of action would be wrong," he said.

Gregory told ABC Radio that it is imperative that
organisations do not leave themselves open to such an attack.

"Once people have worked out how to make this type of
attack, they can automate it," he said.

"So they can then attack a large number of companies in
a very short space of time."

"I wouldn`t be surprised if this is the tip of the
iceberg that you`re hearing about," he added.